M.A. (Social Work) / This study serves to provide social workers in foster care practice in South Africa with a social technology innovation that is: Contextually appropriate Grounded in theory and User friendly. Social workers in South Africa do not have access to a set of standardised assessment criteria with which to assess prospective foster parents, and yet there are over half a million children in the foster care system in South Africa. Consequently, the research goal of this study is to design and develop a contextually appropriate protocol in social work for the assessment of prospective foster parents in South Africa. In order to achieve this, a number of objectives are linked to this goal: 1. To conduct a literature study for the identification of the dimensions (assessment) areas of the protocol. 2. To design a theoretically grounded model of the competencies of effective foster parents in South Africa. 3. To develop a professional social work protocol with which to assess the competencies of prospective foster parents. 4. To conduct focus groups and Delphi cycles to improve the face validity and content validity of the protocol. Developmental research methodologies were used to design the protocol. In the process of using the DR&U model (Thomas, 1984), a further outcome of the study is the development of a research method for the development of a contextually appropriate protocol in social work. The study comprises two stages: Stage 1 entails the design of a model of the competencies of effective foster families (determining “what” constitutes a good foster parent and developing a model of the ideal foster parents). The dimensions or assessment areas of the protocol are identified by means of a detailed literature study. Data obtained from the literature study is integrated with the outcomes of two Nominal Group Techniques and a Delphi Technique. This is to ensure user participation and to contextualise the model and protocol. Stage 2 entails the design and development (to a limited degree) of an assessment protocol with which to assess prospective foster families (specifying “how” one determines if foster parents meet the criteria of the ideal foster parents in the model designed in Stage 1). The conceptual framework of a model of the assessment of prospective parents is refined through a workshop and Delphi Technique with foster parents and social workers. This is to ensure a measure face validity and the adequacy of the protocol. This study concludes with an evaluation of the outcomes of the study, as well as the research method used to develop the model and the protocol. The model and the protocol are attached to this study.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om die effek van gesinsgeweld op die Suid-Afrikaanse kind te bepaal. Die Opvoedkundig-Sielkundige Relasieteorie is gebruik in die identifisering van die effek van gesinsgeweld op die kind. Die volgende is in die studie bevind: Die geweldsvraelys kan gebruik word om die effek van gesinsgeweld by die kind te identifiseer en ook as hulpmiddel dien vir die terapeut in die verband. Die Opvoedkundig-Sielkundige Relasieteorie kan gebruik word om die effek van gesinsgeweld by die kind te identifiseer. Kinders wat geaffekteer word deur gesinsgeweld toon sterker deursettingsvermoe en wilskrag ten einde 'n sukses te maak van hulle toekoms en om nie in dieselfde omstandighede te beland nie. Seuns en dogters se emosionele ervarings toon weinig verskille. Relasie met ouers in gesinsverband word negatief be"invloed, terwyl relasie buite gesinsverband positief voorkom. Kinders wat geaffekteer word deur gesinsgeweld kan gehelp word, al is dit om die kind te verwyder uit die omgewing asook met terapie, gesinsterapie, ensovoorts. / The study was conducted to determine the effect of family violence on South-African children. The Education-Psychological Relation theory was used to identify these effects. In the literature, the following was concentrated on: The questionnaire can determine the effects of family violence on a child and assist a psychologist in this regard. Education-Psychological Relation theory can determine the effects of family violence on a child. Children affected by family violence show a stronger determination and willpower to succeed in their future and not to stay in similar situations. The emotional experiences of boys and girls show little difference. Relationships with parents are negatively affected, but relationships outside the family circle tend to be positive, Finally, children affected by family violence can be helped, albeit to remove the child from the enviroment and to use psychological therapy, family therapy, ectera. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Thesis (M.Ed. (Voorligting))--Universiteit van Suid-Afrika, 2002.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om die effek van gesinsgeweld op die Suid-Afrikaanse kind te bepaal. Die Opvoedkundig-Sielkundige Relasieteorie is gebruik in die identifisering van die effek van gesinsgeweld op die kind. Die volgende is in die studie bevind: Die geweldsvraelys kan gebruik word om die effek van gesinsgeweld by die kind te identifiseer en ook as hulpmiddel dien vir die terapeut in die verband. Die Opvoedkundig-Sielkundige Relasieteorie kan gebruik word om die effek van gesinsgeweld by die kind te identifiseer. Kinders wat geaffekteer word deur gesinsgeweld toon sterker deursettingsvermoe en wilskrag ten einde 'n sukses te maak van hulle toekoms en om nie in dieselfde omstandighede te beland nie. Seuns en dogters se emosionele ervarings toon weinig verskille. Relasie met ouers in gesinsverband word negatief be"invloed, terwyl relasie buite gesinsverband positief voorkom. Kinders wat geaffekteer word deur gesinsgeweld kan gehelp word, al is dit om die kind te verwyder uit die omgewing asook met terapie, gesinsterapie, ensovoorts. / The study was conducted to determine the effect of family violence on South-African children. The Education-Psychological Relation theory was used to identify these effects. In the literature, the following was concentrated on: The questionnaire can determine the effects of family violence on a child and assist a psychologist in this regard. Education-Psychological Relation theory can determine the effects of family violence on a child. Children affected by family violence show a stronger determination and willpower to succeed in their future and not to stay in similar situations. The emotional experiences of boys and girls show little difference. Relationships with parents are negatively affected, but relationships outside the family circle tend to be positive, Finally, children affected by family violence can be helped, albeit to remove the child from the enviroment and to use psychological therapy, family therapy, ectera. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)